Friend wants to upgrade Dell

PC-M Vip3r · 28 Jul 2006 at 17:28

Hey there.

I have a mate who has a Dell PC not a gaming one specs Below:
2.8 P4 LGA 775
512 RAM

The MOBO is a Dell 0M3918

Now she plays on COD2 a lot and wants me to upgrade her PC. She wont let me open the PC so I can have a look, she will only let me open it when I have the parts.

Now I wanna know if it has on board GFX or not. If there is a AGP slot then all is dandy.

Any Ideas where I can find out?

MOBO - Dell 0M3918

TIA

xb8browney · 28 Jul 2006 at 17:34

Priapus · 28 Jul 2006 at 17:44

Just get a new motherboard. The Dell one will be crap anyway.

PC-M Vip3r · 28 Jul 2006 at 17:50

Cheers for that. AGP Slot and 2 spare RAM slots

Raikiri · 28 Jul 2006 at 17:57

It is PCI-e not AGP

How much do they have to spend? And tell them to stop being daft and let you open the case so you can see what wattage the PSU is

MikeTimbers · 28 Jul 2006 at 18:00

Dell's often have proprietary PSU-MOBO connectors. If you can even fit a standard motherboard, you may well have to buy a new PSU.

This is when the "cheapness" of a Dell becomes horribly expensive. The cases are proprietary, the motherboards are proprietary, and the PSU are proprietary.

Good luck!

SiriusB · 28 Jul 2006 at 18:00

Slap her one and tell her shes a silly cow. Why wouldn't you let the person who is trying to upgrade your PC look at the PC lol.

It's like telling a plummer not to look at the leaking pipes until hes got the right parts

SiriusB

Mp4 · 28 Jul 2006 at 18:01

You will have to open it anyway, if its a new ish dell the warrenty will void when you replace the motherboard anyway. It will own better with the new motherboard.

Mul · 28 Jul 2006 at 18:34

What Dimension model is it? Dimension 4700?

Mul

PC-M Vip3r · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:23

Ok I found out everything I need to know

PSU is a mere 305W
PCI-E x16
LGA 775
PCI
2 Spare 3200 SDRAM slots

So I canoot think of a decent GFX card to put in there what will run off a 305W PSU.

Yeah it is a 4700

locutus12 · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:27

Friend wants to upgrade Dell

lol.... ahahahahahahahaaa lolol roffles lol AHAHAHAHAHA! PMSL *tears of laughter*

Good Luck

PC-M Vip3r · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:32

Buy upgrade I mean More RAM better GFX Card and new Monitor

Raikiri · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:36

PC-M Vip3r said:
Buy upgrade I mean More RAM better GFX Card and new Monitor

What is her budget and we will spec something suitible

Indy500 · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:36

Dell motherboards can also be fussy as regards to ram...

Get a Geforce 7300GT (stick with the DDR2 versions), theyre inexpensive, fast and dont require much power.

Raikiri · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:37

sr4470 said:
Dell motherboards can also be fussy as regards to ram...

Get a Geforce 7300GT (stick with the DDR2 versions), theyre inexpensive, fast and dont require much power.

They often use samsung ram

I hope you meant DDR3

Indy500 · 29 Jul 2006 at 15:39

Raikiri said:
They often use samsung ram

I know, it can vary.

Raikiri said:
I hope you meant DDR3

If the OP can afford that, great, but depends on the budget of course.

PC-M Vip3r · 30 Jul 2006 at 20:38

Budget is about £250 Tops

Raikiri · 30 Jul 2006 at 20:45

PC-M Vip3r said:
Budget is about £250 Tops

Auction sites would be the best place for dell specific RAM, saw 3 sets of ddr2 for sale that had been pulled from dell machines. Should get 2x512mb for £40~

As for the graphics card, 7600GT should be fine, doesnt draw a huge amount of power and pretty nippy, available for sub £100.

PC-M Vip3r · 30 Jul 2006 at 23:53

Ok Cheers for the help Lads and ladies (If Any)